Original Commentary

So, can Brisbane grow a beard? I mean, if his whole body is covered with fine fur, how could he shave? Basically, if he let it grow out, it'd get longer and darker. So he uses an electric trimmer, a quarter inch or so from his skin (about 6 mm, for the metric folk).

So, can Brisbane grow a beard? Not really. He'd just end up looking scruffy after a week or so - Terrence

Modern Commentary
Is there a story behind this?

Isabel lost her voice around the same time. And I was working on The New Guy and we decided it would need another week before it was ready to go.

I ought to finish writing stories before they start. I usually don't, but I try to get far enough along that I write the end before it needs to be drawn.

I try, at least- Terrence

Original Commentary

More shirtless, glasses less Brisbane... the only thing this comic is missing is wetness and a big dance number, which wouldn't have gone well considering Kimberly can't sing...

Anyway... they are in Brisbane's old room again... I'm sure they change rooms for... variety. They can now that Sofia is no longer living with them, of course.

Back when Sofia was living with them, Brisbane's stuff was in storage... or rather, their super small, but otherwise unused garage they got with their apartment. They need a car... they really do. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
Based on a true story.

I've lost my voice once or twice as well, which is fun when your entire job is talking to people on the phone... - Terrence

Original Commentary

I always have a lot of trouble drawing kisses... this comic was in exception. Although I think I got "peck on the cheek" alright enough.

I can't recall exactly, but I do believe this was one of few times since the first time the "L" word was mentioned... funny how they don't say that to each other more often. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
Back when AOL Instant Messenger was a thing, Isabel and I would message each other when I was at work.

It was nice. Not as nice as working from home and just being able to talk to each other, but it was nice. - Terrence

Original Commentary

Did Mrs. Taylor know Kimberly was sick? probably not... she only needs to know when people are there when she needs them and that's it... so theoretically you could get away with never being at work, just as long as you're there when it counts... I think... well, it's only a theory, and not a very good one.

I don't know how to text message... I do believe Terrence knows how to, more or less, but is slow at it. The young people in my family can text message like they were using a computer. It's scary, really.-Isabel

Modern Commentary
Yes, that's a 12-button flip phone. There's an art to texting on those things. I held on to mine longer than I should have because I like having physical buttons.

But Brisbane is decidedly not a tech guy. One of the main reason for that is that there were a LOT of webcomics about tech guys doing technological things, and we could either try to be on the cutting edge of things or pointedly decide not to do so.

In retrospect, making Brisbane computer illiterate was a bit of an overreaction, but it works for his character - Terrence

Original Commentary

Originally, I was going to have the comic set up where Brisbane was running to Robert for help. Then I decided that it was better if he tried to do it himself. I'm sure the day was very trying for Kimberly - it's difficult not to be able to speak, even if there's nobody to talk to. At least she got to ignore Emily's call. That probably felt pretty good I'm sure she always ignores Emily's calls and it feels good every time - Isabel

Modern Commentary
In the script, Kimberly was a bit more visibly sick. She's not feeling great here, I'm sure, but you can't see how red her nose is.

Brisbane probably overdid it with the medical supplies but he's a nurturer that way - Terrence

Original Commentary

A few weeks ago I had a horrible case of laryngitis, which was very difficult for me to deal with. When Terrence is here, at least, I like to talk a lot (much to Terrence's dismay I'm sure), which I could not do then. We had to rely on AIM quite a bit at home- that's where the idea for text messing came from- I knew of the two of them Kimberly was the only one with a computer at work (or home) so there was no way they could have talked... it's possible that she could have used her computer to text message him in the first place (if that's possible... I do know that we could possibly have AIM on our phones- if we had Internet access on our phones- it's extra, right?).

This is the end of the mini-saga of "Kimberly being mad at Brisbane over the whole money deal", which I'm glad is over... all this Kimberly being mad at Brisbane was starting to get on my nerves. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
Hopefully Kimberly got an electric kettle for her office and some herbal tea.

I don't have anything to add here, but I love the way this comic is staged. Just a nice domestic moment that lets a couple touch each other a bit. - Terrence